Apparatus for lifting bricks



Jan. 19, 1954 p, MCDQNQUGH APPARATUS FOR LIFTING BRICKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1951 INVENTOR Pau/FM Dmogqh @3 0 M Jan. 19, 1954 MODQNOUGH 2,666,663

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING BRICKS Filed April 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pig. 2

I N V EN TOR. Pcu/F M C Donoqgh Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FoR LIFTING BRIoKs Paul F. McDonough, Dorchester, Mass. Application April 5, 1951; Serial No. 219,341

3 Claims. (01. 294-63) My present invention has for its object a. satisfactory apparatus for lifting and transporting piles of brick for use with a crane or other power hoisting device. Many attempts have been made to make satisfactory apparatus for this purpose, but as far as I am informed, all have been de-v fective for one reason or another, usually too heavy. The apparatus embodying 'my present invention is capable of being lowered over a pile of brick on the ground or on a platform properly arranged in rows, lifting it and transporting it to another position, for instance, on a construction staging. It is particularly adaptable for use in brick yards, freight and storage yards and building and construction operations. It is simple and can 'be made relatively cheaply of very rugged construction capable of rough handling and long wear. Because of its simplicity the device is relatively light in weight and, therefore, can be used and set down upon ordinary staging without the necessity of special reinforcement of the staging.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lifting apparatus in the position it occupies after being lowered down over a pile of brick, the members of the tongs being separated;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the position of the parts as the apparatus is being lowered;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts in the position they occupy when the pile is about to be lifted;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; V

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing the tong members in disengaged position and the box and guides for the tong members in dotted line position;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a detail of the end of one of the tongs.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, at H is shown a pair of side members having pivots l2l2 for the members I 3| 3 of a pair of tongs. Conveniently between the side members |l-l I there is supported as by welding or riveting an open bottomed box l4 arranged to enclose and hold in position the upper tiers of a pile of brick, the two lower tiers of which 15, I 6 are shown in dotted line in Fig. 1. The two members l3 of the tongs are each composed of a substantially vertical member l3a and a 2 substantially horizontal member 131). When the tongs are open, they occupy the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the horizontal portions E3!) in substantially horizontal position. At each end of the horizontal member is provided a pair of lugs l6 between which a bolt I! passes. A shackle or link 18 serves for the attachment of a sling l9 indicated in dotted line. On the top of the box M are located three guide plates 2! 2i and 22 braced by braces 3| on the top :of the box. These guide plates 20, 2! and '22 serve to prevent lateral displacement of the horizontal members I31) of the tongs and to protect them from injury from blows which are likely to occur as the apparatus is moved from place to place. The vertical arms 13a of the tong members are at a slightly obtuse angle from the horizontal members l3b and bend inwardly at the bottom as shown at [30.

At the bottom of each tong member I3 is located a cross bar 23 to which is pivoted a pair of compression-friction shoes 24-45 by bolts 2525. These bolts pass through ribs or lugs 26 on the outside of the shoes. The lower end of each of the tong members [3 is provided with a pair of flanges 21 between which is a portion 28 which serves as a pivot for the bar 23. The pivot portion 28 of the tong members is received in a V-shaped slot 29 in the bar 23, and the back of the slot is closed by a plate 30 secured to the ears 23a on the bar. This construction is such that the bar 23 can pivot slightly in a horizontal plane about the member 28 while the two "shoes 2 4 24 can swing about their pivots 2-5. Therefore, the shoes 24 can adjust themselves automatically to variations in the position of the end faces of the bottom tier or tiers i5, l6 of bricks in the piles. This construction provides equalization of pressure on each of the pairs of shoes 24 with the great advantage of positive metal to metal contact between the tong members l3 and the shoes 24 which overcomes the uncertain operation and disadvantages of previous devices, for instance, spring devices used for equalizing pressure. At each end of the frame II is pivoted at 46 a frame which is composed of two legs 40, a cross member '4! and diagonal braces 42 and 43. These members can swing about the pivot 46 from the position shown in full line in Fig. 1' to the position shown in dotted. lines on the right hand side of that figure.

There is also provided a removable pin 50, see Fig. 1, which passes through the three plates 20, 2| and 22 and is located above the upper edges of the horizontal members 13b of the two tong members it when the tongs are open. This pin is arranged to be inserted or withdrawn by the operator. It is inserted when the members ESb are in horizontal position and when in place holds the tongs open in position to be lowered over a pile of brick without interfering with the ends of the pile.

In the operation of my machine, the device with the parts in the full line position shown in Fig. 1 and also as shown in Fig. 2 is lowered down over the pile of brick. In this position the lower arms lea are separated and held in this position by the pin se. The two leg frames 48 are in the up position. At this time the shoe members 24 of the tongs touch the ground, and the sling I9 is given slack thereby releasing strain on the pin 50. The pin 5!! is then removed and strain is taken by the sling I9. The first action of the sling i9 is to lift the outer ends of the tong members swinging them about the pivots l2 and bringing the shoes 24 into contact with the ends of the pile of bricks. Further upward movement of the sling causes the shoes to grip the brick pile with sufficient compression and consequent friction so that the pile can be lifted bodily.

When the pile is lowered in the desired position and desired to be released, all of the operative parts are in the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 1, with both leg frames lowered. In this position the leg frames 40 support the apparatus on the ground or platform with the shoes 24 just clear of the surface in which the pile is placed. This allows the tong parts 3?) to be lowered into horizontal position when the sling is slacked, thereby opening the tongs to release the brick pile at which time the pin 90 is replaced over the tongs to hold them in open position when the apparatus is lifted away from the pile. It is seen that without the leg frames 49, the shoes 24 would rest directly on the support surface, and that the tongs would fail to open because of the weight on the shoes 24 and the resulting friction of the latter.

I claim:

In a lifting appliance for brick and the like and in combination a frame, a box supported by and substantially above said frame, said boX having an open bottom and being arranged to enclose and to hold in position the tiers of a pile of brick, a pair of elbow shaped tong members outside said box having vertical portions pivoted near their bottom ends to opposite ends of said frame and compression-friction shoes at the bottom of ends 4 of said vertical portions for engaging said brick said Vertical portion extending to elbows at opposite ends of the top of said box, and horizontal portions extending the length of said box along its top, the said horizontal portions thereby overlap-v ping each other, vertical guide plates mounted on top of the box between which said horizontal portions of the tongs are slidable thereby confining the movement of said horizontal tong portions in vertical planes, a removable ,pin through said guide plates operating to hold said horizontal tong portions in downward position to keep the tongs open when the appliance is moved clear of a pile of bricks, and a sling secured to the outer ends of the horizontal portions of the tong members operating, when lifted after said pin is removed, to engage the tongs against and thereby to lift a pile of brick.

2. In the combination as set forth in claim 1, a pair of retractable leg members pivoted to opposite ends of said frame, said leg members when in downward position extending below said shoes thereby supporting said appliance when lowered with a pile of brick so that said tong members are r free to open to release said pile and allowing said pin to be replaced above said horizontal tong portions so that the appliance may be lifted clear of said pile with the tongs in open position.

3. In a lifting apparatus of the class described, said device including a pair of tong members; a pivot portion at the lower end of each tong member, flange portions above and below said pivot portion, a horizontal shoe holding bar having a notch loosely straddling said pivot portion and a pair of shoes pivoted to said shoe holding bar, said shoes thereby receiving substantially equal pressure when force is exerted upon them by said tongs.

PAUL F. McDONOUGl-I. 

